Afenyo-Markin Calls for Independent Parliamentary Legal Offices Across Africa
Alexander Afenyo-Markin, Minority Leader in Parliament, has called for greater independence for parliamentary legal offices across Africa, warning that dependence on the Executive for legal advice could weaken legislative oversight and constitutional accountability. Speaking at the opening of the 8th Africa Colloquium of Legal Counsel to Parliaments in Accra on Tuesday, October 13, 2026, under the theme “Ethics, Integrity and Legal Accountability”, he said parliamentary lawyers must provide impartial advice grounded in the Constitution and free from political influence. “A Parliament that depends upon the Executive for its legal opinions is a diminished Parliament,” he said, stressing the need for independent legal counsel when Parliament considers contentious bills, loan agreements and statutory instruments affecting citizens’ rights and freedoms.
Mr Afenyo-Markin also urged parliamentary legal counsel to resist political pressure and attempts to manipulate parliamentary procedures to suppress dissent or marginalise minority voices. He said professional integrity required lawyers to advise the Speaker, Clerk and committee chairpersons honestly, even when their advice conflicted with the interests of powerful political actors. Referring to the 15-year review of the Nairobi Principles on parliamentary legal offices, he urged delegates to assess whether their institutions had adequate autonomy, resources and authority to perform their duties effectively. He said independent and ethical parliamentary counsel were essential to protecting constitutional democracy, preventing arbitrary use of power and strengthening accountability across Africa.
